The Perks of Being a Wallflower (film)
Encyclopedia
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an upcoming American adaptation of the epistolary
novel of the same name
. Directed by the novel's author, Stephen Chbosky
, filming started around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 9 and ended on June 29, 2011.
) sought to hire Stephen Chbosky - author of the novel - to adapt the film. The producers, John Malkovich
, Lianne Halfon, and Russell Smith then hired Chbosky to write an adapted screenplay and to direct the film. In May 2010, actors Logan Lerman
and Emma Watson
were reported to be in talks for the film. In January 2011, Summit acquired distribution rights to the film. In the following February, Lerman and Watson were confirmed as Charlie and Sam. In the same month, Summit sought a buyer for the project at the European Film Market held simultaneously with the Berlin International Film Festival
. In April 2011, Mae Whitman
signed on as Mary Elizabeth and Nina Dobrev
was cast as Candace. Paul Rudd
was cast as Bill later that month. On May 9, 2011, Kate Walsh announced, via her Twitter, that she was cast in the film as Charlie's mother and has begun filming.
, including Upper St. Clair and Peters Township High School
; author and director Stephen Chbosky is a native of Upper St. Clair. Scenes of the film's characters in costume at the The Rocky Horror Picture Show
were filmed at The Hollywood Theater in Dormont
. Chbosky had seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show there when he was younger, and requested to rent the theater as a location when he found out it was re-opening.
Epistolary novel
An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use...
novel of the same name
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel written by American novelist Stephen Chbosky. It was published on February 1, 1999 by MTV...
. Directed by the novel's author, Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky is an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director best known for the coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower...
, filming started around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 9 and ended on June 29, 2011.
Plot
Charlie, a high-school freshman, copes with his mental issues while trying to find a place to belong. He is introduced to the world of sex and drugs by senior friends, Sam and Patrick.Cast
- Logan LermanLogan LermanLogan Wade Lerman is an American actor, known for playing the title role in the 2010 fantasy-adventure Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. He appeared in commercials in the mid 1990s, before starring in the series Jack & Bobby , and the movies The Butterfly Effect and Hoot...
as Charlie. - Emma WatsonEmma WatsonEmma Charlotte Duerre Watson is an English actress and model.Watson rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Watson was cast as Hermione at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. From 2001 to 2011, she starred in all eight Harry Potter...
as Sam, Patrick's step-sister. - Paul RuddPaul RuddPaul Stephen Rudd is an American actor and screenwriter. He has primarily appeared in comedies, and is known for his roles in the films Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer, Anchorman, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Dinner for Schmucks, The Object of My...
as Bill, Charlie's English teacher. - Mae WhitmanMae WhitmanMae Margaret Whitman is an American television, movie and voice actress. She is known for her role as Ann Veal in the TV series Arrested Development, her role as Amber on the TV series Parenthood, her role as Roxy Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs...
as Mary-Elizabeth, Charlie's first girlfriend. - Nina DobrevNina DobrevNina Dobrev is a Bulgarian-Canadian actress. She played the role of Mia Jones, the single teenage mother, on Degrassi: The Next Generation, from the show's sixth to ninth season...
as Candace, Charlie's sister. - Kate Walsh as Charlie's mother.
- Dylan McDermottDylan McDermottMark Anthony McDermott , better known by his professional name of Dylan McDermott, is an American actor, known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the television legal drama The Practice and his role in the series Dark Blue as Lt. Carter Shaw. McDermott currently stars in FX...
as Charlie's father. - Ezra MillerEzra Miller- Early life :Miller was born in New Jersey. His mother, Marta, is a modern dancer. His father, Robert S. Miller, was senior vice president and managing director of Walt Disney Company's adult book publishing division, Hyperion Books. He has two older sisters, Saiya and Caitlin.Miller was trained...
as Patrick
- Johnny SimmonsJohnny SimmonsJohnny Simmons is an American actor.Simmons was born in Montgomery, Alabama and was raised in Dallas, Texas, where he attended Nathan Adams Elementary and T. C. Marsh Middle School. He is a 2005 graduate of W. T. White High School...
Development
Mr. Mudd Productions (producers of JunoJuno (film)
Juno is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, J. K....
) sought to hire Stephen Chbosky - author of the novel - to adapt the film. The producers, John Malkovich
John Malkovich
John Gavin Malkovich is an American actor, producer, director and fashion designer with his label Technobohemian. Over the last 25 years of his career, Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 motion pictures. For his roles in Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire, he received Academy Award...
, Lianne Halfon, and Russell Smith then hired Chbosky to write an adapted screenplay and to direct the film. In May 2010, actors Logan Lerman
Logan Lerman
Logan Wade Lerman is an American actor, known for playing the title role in the 2010 fantasy-adventure Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. He appeared in commercials in the mid 1990s, before starring in the series Jack & Bobby , and the movies The Butterfly Effect and Hoot...
and Emma Watson
Emma Watson
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is an English actress and model.Watson rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Watson was cast as Hermione at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. From 2001 to 2011, she starred in all eight Harry Potter...
were reported to be in talks for the film. In January 2011, Summit acquired distribution rights to the film. In the following February, Lerman and Watson were confirmed as Charlie and Sam. In the same month, Summit sought a buyer for the project at the European Film Market held simultaneously with the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. In April 2011, Mae Whitman
Mae Whitman
Mae Margaret Whitman is an American television, movie and voice actress. She is known for her role as Ann Veal in the TV series Arrested Development, her role as Amber on the TV series Parenthood, her role as Roxy Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs...
signed on as Mary Elizabeth and Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev is a Bulgarian-Canadian actress. She played the role of Mia Jones, the single teenage mother, on Degrassi: The Next Generation, from the show's sixth to ninth season...
was cast as Candace. Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd
Paul Stephen Rudd is an American actor and screenwriter. He has primarily appeared in comedies, and is known for his roles in the films Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer, Anchorman, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Dinner for Schmucks, The Object of My...
was cast as Bill later that month. On May 9, 2011, Kate Walsh announced, via her Twitter, that she was cast in the film as Charlie's mother and has begun filming.
Filming
The film was being shot in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area from May 9 to June 29, 2011. Initial filming began in Pittsburgh's South HillsSouth Hills (Pennsylvania)
The South Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh south of the South Side Slopes. The city neighborhoods include Knoxville, Mt. Oliver, Allentown, Banksville, Beechview, Brookline,...
, including Upper St. Clair and Peters Township High School
Peters Township High School
Peters Township High School is a public high school in McMurray, Pennsylvania, at 264 East McMurray Road. It was built in 1968 and renovated in 1981. In January 2001, a 16-month, $24 million renovation was completed. The high school includes students from grades 9 through 12...
; author and director Stephen Chbosky is a native of Upper St. Clair. Scenes of the film's characters in costume at the The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
were filmed at The Hollywood Theater in Dormont
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
. Chbosky had seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show there when he was younger, and requested to rent the theater as a location when he found out it was re-opening.